Best Schools for Low-income Students in South Dakota (2026)

These are the South Dakota public schools where low-income students scored highest on the state reading and math tests, ranked by the average of the two proficiency rates. Only schools with at least 20 tested low-income students are included. The list reflects how students in this group perform at each school; it is not a ranking of schools by their demographic makeup.

Other lists: Asian · Black · Hispanic · Multiracial · American Indian / Alaska Native · White

Elementary schools

#	School	Reading	Math	Tested	Overall Repit grade
1	Challenge Center - 51 Sioux Falls	90%	90%	22	A+
2	Dell Rapids Elementary - 02 Dell Rapids	75%	75%	32	A+
3	Robert Bennis Elementary - 05 Brandon	70%	70%	23	A+
4	Corsica-Stickney Elementary - 02 Stickney	70%	70%	22	A+
5	Sonia Sotomayor Elementary - 65 Sioux Falls	70%	70%	27	A
6	Ipswich Elementary - 02 Ipswich	70%	70%	26	A+
7	Parkston Elementary - 02 Parkston	65%	65%	42	A
8	Webster Area Elementary - 03 Webster	65%	65%	36	C+
9	Britton-Hecla Elementary - 02 Britton	70%	50%	27	C+
10	Brandon Elementary - 03 Brandon	65%	55%	59	A+
11	Burke Elementary - 02 Burke	70%	50%	20	A+
12	Chester Elementary -02 Chester	50%	70%	20	C+
13	Philip Elementary - 02 Philip	70%	50%	20	B
14	Menno Elementary - 02 Menno	50%	70%	26	B+
15	Pinedale Elementary - 11 Rapid City	65%	55%	33	B+
16	John F. Kennedy Elementary - 57 Sioux Falls	57%	62%	80	A+
17	Sturgis Elementary - 03 Sturgis	57%	62%	82	A+
18	Platte - Geddes Elementary - 02 Platte	70%	50%	29	B
19	Howard Elementary - 02 Howard	70%	50%	30	A+
20	Bridgewater-Emery Elementary - 02 Bridgewater	55%	55%	33	A+
21	Groton Area Elementary - 02 Groton	50%	50%	30	C+
22	C C Lee Elementary - 05 Aberdeen	55%	45%	34	A
23	Baltic Elementary - 02 Baltic	—	50%	19	A
24	Beresford Elementary - 02 Beresford	50%	50%	26	C
25	Centerville Elementary - 02 Centerville	50%	50%	28	A+

Middle schools

#	School	Reading	Math	Tested	Overall Repit grade
1	Timber Lake Middle School - 03 Timber Lake	65%	65%	37	A
2	Tri-Valley Intermediate School - 03 Colton	75%	55%	36	C+
3	Groton Area Middle School - 04 Groton	70%	50%	22	B+
4	Elk Point-Jefferson Middle School - 03 Elk Point	70%	50%	29	C+
5	Ethan Elementary - 02 Ethan	50%	70%	27	B+
6	Ipswich Middle School - 04 Ipswich	70%	50%	26	A
7	Grass Ranch Colony Elementary - 13 Kimball	50%	70%	22	B+
8	Menno Middle School - 05 Menno	70%	50%	23	C
9	McIntosh Middle School - 03 Mcintosh	70%	50%	28	D
10	Burke Middle School - 04 Burke	65%	45%	33	B
11	Brandon Valley Middle School - 02 Brandon	57%	47%	125	A+
12	Webster Area Middle School - 02 Webster	70%	30%	23	C
13	Holgate Middle School - 02 Aberdeen	52%	47%	167	B
14	Canton Middle School - 04 Canton	45%	55%	58	C
15	Chester Middle School - 03 Chester	50%	50%	20	B+
16	Langford Area Middle School - 03 Langford	50%	50%	20	C+
17	Mount Vernon Middle School - 03 Mount Vernon	50%	50%	25	A+
18	Southwest Middle School - 38 Rapid City	57%	42%	107	A+
19	Wall Middle School - 06 Wall	50%	50%	22	B+
20	Interior Elementary - 09 Interior	50%	50%	20	B
21	Lemmon Elementary - 02 Lemmon	50%	50%	26	B+
22	Stagebarn Middle School - 10 Summerset	47%	47%	85	B
23	Yankton Middle School - 02 Yankton	52%	42%	232	C+
24	Milbank Middle School - 02 Milbank	52%	37%	74	C
25	Dell Rapids Middle School - 03 Dell Rapids	45%	45%	60	A+

High schools

#	School	Reading	Math	Tested	Overall Repit grade
1	Stevens High School - 42 Rapid City	75%	55%	50	A+
2	Brandon Valley High School - 01 Brandon	75%	45%	37	A+
3	Watertown High School - 01 Watertown	65%	35%	45	A
4	Wagner High School - 01 Wagner	65%	25%	42	C
5	Mitchell High School - 01 Mitchell	55%	35%	42	B+
6	Central High School - 01 Aberdeen	57%	27%	83	B
7	Bennett County High School - 01 Martin	70%	10%	25	C
8	Dupree High School - 01 Dupree	50%	30%	24	C
9	Madison High School - 01 Madison	70%	10%	20	B
10	Spearfish High School - 01 Spearfish	50%	30%	24	B
11	Sturgis Brown High School - 01 Sturgis	55%	25%	33	C+
12	Douglas High School - 03 Box Elder	45%	35%	33	B+
13	Washington High School - 01 Sioux Falls	47%	27%	131	C+
14	Yankton High School - 01 Yankton	47%	22%	62	B+
15	Central High School - 41 Rapid City	42%	22%	66	C
16	Chamberlain High School - 01 Chamberlain	50%	10%	21	C
17	Milbank High School - 01 Milbank	50%	10%	21	C+
18	Brookings High School - 01 Brookings	35%	25%	37	B
19	Harrisburg High School - 01 Harrisburg	35%	15%	33	C+
20	Eagle Butte High School - 01 Eagle Butte	45%	5%	43	D
21	Roosevelt High School - 03 Sioux Falls	32%	17%	146	C+
22	T F Riggs High School - 01 Pierre	25%	25%	34	B+
23	Lincoln High School - 02 Sioux Falls	27%	17%	110	C+
24	Lead-Deadwood High School - 01 Lead	30%	10%	21	C
25	Flandreau High School - 01 Flandreau	30%	10%	21	C

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts (state assessment results by student group) via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Small schools report results as ranges; we use the midpoint. Methodology

Best Schools for Low-income Students in South Dakota (2026)

Elementary schools

Middle schools

High schools

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